Shelf system for delivery vehicles



May 16, 1939.

F. B. HEWEL SHELF SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY VEHICLES Filed May 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR flmvkfl/fivel BY WUAM R- (3&

ATTORNEY May 16, 1939. F. a. HEWEL M 2,158,503

SHELF SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY VEHICLES Filed May 29,1937 2 Sheets -Sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to delivery Vehicles, such as bakery trucks, and particularly to shelf systems therefor.

One object of my invention is to provide a multiple shelf system in a delivery vehicle affording ready access to all parts of the shelf system, with a minimum amount of sliding out or removal of shelves being required.

Another object of my invention is to provide a delivery vehicle shelf system comprising a normally substantially horizontal portion having a hinge thereon preferably extending substantially longitudinally of the vehicle, whereby such shelf portion may be raised to a substantially vertical position and secured therein to permit access to other parts of the shelf system.

A further object of my invention is to provide a number of substantially horizontal shelf portions having alined hinge means on all of 20 them and preferably disposed opposite a similar set of substantially horizontally hinged portions, whereby such oppositely-located portions may be selectively moved to a substantially vertical position to provide an opening between the oppositely-disposed portions, thus permitting ready access to a relatively large area of the shelf below.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shelf system of the character set forth above in which interlocking means are provided on adjacent edges of the oppositely-disposed portions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a shelf system of the type set forth in which the movable portions overlap adjacent stationary portions, being hinged at substantially the intersecting edges of the stationary portion and a ver-' tical partition member attached thereto.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a delivery truck body constructed in accordance with my present invention; and

Figs. 2 to 13, inclusive, are fragmentary Views, partly in perspective, partly in elevation and partly in section, of various portions of the structure that is shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the structure there shown comprises a delivery vehicle, such as a bakery truck I, having substantially vertical side body members 2 and 3, a bottom 4, a roof or top 5 and a rear door 6, all of which may be of a familiar type. In addition, a plurality of substantially horizontal guides or rails 1 are disposed at varying heights along the body sides 2 and 3, and upon these guides or rails are disposed a plurality of composite shelf structures comprising substantially horizontal side portions 8 and 9 along the inner edges of which substantially vertical portions or partitions III and II extend, and central portions comprising a plurality of oppositely-disposed portions I2 and I3 which are provided with hinge structures I4 to permit selective movement of these portions to a substantially vertical position, in which they may be latched, as subsequently described in detail.

The portions I2 are thus provided with alined hinge structure I4 at substantially the intersecting edges of the horizontal portion 8 and vertical portion I0, whereas the portions I3 are provided with intermediately mounted alined hinge struc tures I4 located at substantially the intersection of horizontal portion 9 and vertical portion I I.

The adjacent edges of successive portions I2 and I3 are beveled, as shown at I9 in Figs. 9 and 13, in such a manner that the portion nearer the rear of the truck overlaps the next front portion. In this way the rearmost portions I2 and I3 may be raised when desired, but the successive portions extending toward the front may be individually raised only if the portions to the rear have first been raised. This construction prevents intermediate portions I2 and I3 alone being raised, which might cause pinching or other damage of bakery products or the like.

In order to permit non-interfering movement of each portion I2 or I3 to a vertical position relative to the next front portion, the overlapping part (underneath the side shelf 9, for example) of one portion has its beveled edge cut away, as

shown at 20 in Fig. 13. In this way the successive portions I3, for example, overlap each other (beveled edges) throughout the central shelf part (between the vertical partitions It and II) for the desired interlocking purpose, but the beveled edges underneath the side shelf 9, for example, do not interfere, by reason of one of them being cut away, as shown at 20 in Fig 1.3. This same cut away feature is, of course, employed between each succeeding pair of hinged portions I2 and of hinged portions I3.

Each composite shelf structure thus includes two relatively stationary side portions and a central portion which is split in several places substantially parallel to the rear door of the vehicle and also in a central line I5 substantially at right angles to the rear door. Preferably interlocking inclined members or strips I6 and I! are disposed along the central line I5 on the respective oppositely-located hinged portions I2 and I3 to suitably nest or interlock, and since the portions I2 and I3 overlap the side portions 8 and 9, respectively, that is, extend for a certain distance underneath such portions 8 and 9, although the hinges I4 are located at intermediate points on such portions, it follows that these portions I2 and I3 normally remain in a substantially horizontal position and provide a relatively flat surface upon which may be safely loaded the various products it is desired to deliver, by reason of the overlapping portions in question. In addition, of course, the side portions 8 and 9 are also loaded with such products, care being taken insofar as possible to place the products most likely to be delivered first along the central portions.

For the purpose of further preventing the rearmost hinged portions I2 and I3 from inadvertently being raised, a hook or J-shaped member 25 may be suitably secured at the outer end of either of the interlocking members I and I! to tightly engage the other one, as indicated in Figs. 10 and 11. In this way, the hinged shelf portions I2 and I3 are interlocked with each other in a horizontal plane by means of the inclined members I6 and I1, and relative upward movement is prevented by reason of the hook member 25. However, either of the rearmost hinged portions of the shelf may be moved when desired, by simply sliding half of the shelf outwardly to disengage hook 25.

On the bottom 4 of the truck a plurality of vertical partitions I8 may be secured, thus providing three stationary-floor compartments at the bottom of the truck. These partitions are preferably provided with bottom openings I 8a to permit ready sweeping out.

In order to prevent bread or other products from falling to a lower shelf when any of the hinged shelf portions I2 and I3 are turned into their vertical position, a movable partition or barrier 2I having bottom skids or runners 22 and hooks or the like 23 at its upper corners may be provided. The hooks 23 slide over the top edges of the vertical partitions I0 and I I and the skids 22 slide along the hinged portions I2 and I3, so that the barrier or partition 2I may be moved to any desired point between the rear door and the front wall 24 of the truck, thus permitting selective movement to their vertical positions of as many of the hinged shelf sections I2 and I3 as desired. Normally this partition is placed at the rearmost end of the portions I2 and I3 to hold products in place thereon, but may be moved from each hinged portion to the one next in front, if desired, as the rear portions are successively unloaded.

The stationary or side shelf members 8 and 9 may be held in the front wall 24 of the vehicle in any desired manner, such as shown in Fig. 3, when a beveled edge I9 of the boards 9 fits into a corresponding notch in the wall 24.

The vertical partitions I0 and II are provided with a plurality of spaced keyhole-shaped slots, one on each vertical partition corresponding to the adjacent hinged shelf section I2 or I3, and a latching apparatus 21 in each hinged shelf section I2 and I3 is provided for cooperating with the corresponding keyhole slot 25, when the shelf sections occupy their vertical position, to latch them therein.

The latching device 21 in each of the movable shelf portions I2 and I3 is placed in a triple-part opening in each of these shelf portions comprising a large rectangular bottom opening 28, a relatively narrow slot 29 contiguous thereto, and an upper opening 30 having a width greater than that of the slot 29. The purpose of these openings is as follows: A rod or stem 3| extends into all three openings and a sheet metal spring member or plate 32 is centrally secured by a rivet 34 or the like to one end of the rod 3|, the outer ends of the resilient sheet 34 being bent upwardly and inwardly at an angle for a purpose to be set forth. On the other or upper end of the rod 31 an enlarged head 35 is threaded or otherwise detachably secured to the rod, so that, when the entire latch device is assembled, the resilient plate 32 is disposed within the large opening 28 and the head 35 within the shallow opening 3!). The length of the entire latch is such that normally, that is, when the corresponding shelf portion occupies a horizontal position, the entire latching device is within the confines of the shelf portion, that is, does not project either above or below the same, thus preventing any catching of either the bakery products or of the clothes of the driver thereon.

At the same time, when it is desired to hold any hinged shelf portion I2 or I3 in its vertical position, it is merely pushed upwardly around its hinges I4 and the latching device 21 is then pushed outwardly, that is, toward the vertical partition ID or II, as the case may be, until the head 35 engages the larger portion 35 of the keyhole slot 26. The latching device 21 is then pulled or pushed downwardly, so that the head 35 extends beyond the small portion 3'! of the keyhole slot 26, thus holding the shelf portion I2 or I3 in'its vertical position as long as desired. In this position of the hinged shelf portion, the end portions 33 of resilient plate 32 are compressed, as shown in Fig. 6, to provide a non-rattling latch connection.

When it is wished to return the shelf portion to its horizontal position, the latching device 27 is merely pushed or pulled upwardly until the head 35 is opposite the large portion 36 of the keyhole slot 26, whereupon the resilient action of the previously compressed end portions 33 of the resilient sheet metal member 32 cause the latching device to automatically release itself from the vertical partition ID or II, and as the-shelf portion I2 or I3 is returned to its horizontal position, the latching device assumes a position with respect to the shelf portion, as shown in Fig. 5, that is, is again entirely confined within the upper and lower planes of the shelf portion.

It will be appreciated, however, that any other suitable means for latching the movable shelf portions in a vertical position and releasing them when it is desired to return the shelf portions to a horizontal position may be employed if desired.

It will be seen that I have thus provided a shelf system for delivery vehicles, such as bakery trucks, in which the various products may be packed and removed in the same manner as in present stationary shelf trucks, and at the same time, the additional and very material advantage is obtained that at any time any desired rear section of the central portion of each shelf may be selectively and readily operated to a vertical position and held therein to permit ready access to any portion of the shelf below without requiring the removal of the upper shelf or the sliding out of the lower shelf.

I do not wish to be restricted to the particular structural details or arrangement of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A delivery vehicle shelf system enclosed eX- cept at one end and comprising a pair of adjacently disposed substantially horizontal portions, and substantially parallel hinges disposed intermediate the non-adjacent and the adjacent edges of. said portions and extending substantially at right angles to said end, whereby said portions may selectively assume substantially vertical positions in the respective planes of said hinges.

2. A delivery vehicle shelf system enclosed except at the rear end and comprising a pair of adjacently disposed substantially horizontal portions, substantially parallel hinges disposed intermediate the non-adjacent and the adjacent edges of said portions and extending substantially at right angles to said end, whereby said portions may selectively assume substantially vertical positions in the respective planes of said hinges, and means for selectively securing said portions in said vertical positions.

3. A delivery vehicle shelf system comprising a pair of adjacently disposed substantially horizontal portions, substantially parallel hinges disposed intermediate the non-adjacent and the adjacent edges of said portions, means disposed near said non-adjacent edges for holding said portions in their horizontal positions, and interlocking means extending along adjacent edges of said portions,

4. A delivery vehicle shelf system comprising a pair of adjacently disposed substantially horizontal portions, substantially parallel hinges disposed intermediate' the non-adjacent and the adjacent edges of said portions and extending substantially longitudinally of the vehicle, whereby said portions may selectively assume substantially vertical positions in the respective planes of said hinges, means coacting with the parts of said portions near said non-adjacent edges for holding said portions in their horizontal positions, and interlocking means extending along adjacent edges of said portions extending substantially parallel to said hinges.

5. A delivery vehicle shelf system comprising a normally substantially horizontal portion, a substantially vertical portion at the inner edge of. said horizontal portion, a second horizontal portion overlapping the first and hinged at substantially the intersecting edges of said first horizontal portion and said vertical portion, and means for interconnecting said vertical portion to said second horizontal portion when turned at substantially right angles around said hinge.

6. A delivery vehicle shelf system comprising a pair of spaced apart substantially horizontal portions, a substantially vertical portion at the inner edge of each horizontal portion, and adjacently disposed third and fourth horizontal portions respectively overlapping the first and the second and respectively hinged at substantially the intersecting edges of the respectively contiguous vertical and horizontal portions.

7. A delivery vehicle shelf system comprising a pair of spaced apart substantially horizontal portions, a substantially vertical portion at the inner edge of each horizontal portion, adjacently disposed third and fourth horizontal portions respectively overlapping the first and the second and respectively hinged at substantially the intersecting edges of the respective contiguous vertical and horizontal portions, and means for interconnecting each vertical portion to the corresponding hinged horizontal portion when turned at substantially right angles around its respective hinge.

8. A delivery vehicle shelf system comprising a pair of. spaced apart substantially horizontal portions, a substantially vertical portion at the inner edge of each horizontal portion, adjacently disposed third and fourth horizontal portions respectively overlapping the first and the second and respectively hinged at substantially the intersecting edges of the respectively contiguous vertical and horizontal portions, means for interconnecting each vertical portion to the corresponding hinged horizontal portion when turned at substantially right angles around its respective hinge, and. interlocking means on adjacent edges of said third and fourth portions.

FRANK B. HEW'EL. 

